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Podcast #88: Shining a light through education

'Beyond School Books' – a podcast series on education in emergencies

A classroom in Jonglei State, South Sudan. A recent surge of violence in the country has caused displacement and interruptions in basic social services, including education.

By Rudina Vojvoda

After decades of reporting on the human cost of war, Janine di Giovanni can clearly articulate the way forward. “We have to shine the light in darkness, and that light is education,” she says in the latest Beyond School Books podcast.

NEW YORK, United States of America, 22 January 2014 – As the world’s private and public sector leaders gather in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum, UNICEF and its partners have one message: Invest in girls’ empowerment.

Around the world, girls are often denied their right to education – and therefore the opportunity to reach their full potential. The situation for girls’ education is especially dire in countries that are affected by conflict.

Yet investing in girls’ education is the ultimate ‘win–win’ for everyone. For example, a one percentage point increase in secondary female education raises the average level of GDP by 0.3 percentage points.

Journalist and Middle East Editor at Newsweek Janine di Giovanni – who has spent decades reporting on the human cost of war – sees education as key not only to ending, but also to preventing, conflict.

The figures speak clearly, but are the decision-makers listening? If not, how do we make them listen?

In this episode of Beyond School Books, we spoke with Janine Di Giovanni, who, for the past 30 years, has been reporting about the human cost of conflict. An award-winning author and journalist, and currently Middle East editor for Newsweek magazine, Ms. Di Giovanni has been covering conflicts since the 1980s. She is attending the Davos conference with one goal in mind: to inform policy and influence change through stories that give conflict a human face.

Ms. Di Giovanni has just returned from South Sudan, where, according to her, more than 60,000 people are displaced and are being sheltered by the United Nations. “I can’t tell you how miserable their lives are,” she said. “Just the hunt for water, for sanitation, for food…Their lives have been stopped, their education has been stopped. Everything is on hold, and they have lost people…Some of them are alone in the world because they have lost everyone they know.”

A child-friendly space, in Jonglei State. “I went to schools … and what was really extraordinary was the desire to learn because they realize that knowledge propels them out of a very dark place,” says Ms. di Giovanni.

Ms. Di Giovanni talked to different children at length, while in South Sudan. “It is interesting because UNICEF in Juba, South Sudan, was preparing children for exams on January 13. It’s very important when people are living in dire conditions to have some semblance of ordinary life, of what life used to be like,” she said. Ms. Di Giovanni hopes to convey this story and others to leaders who are participating in the Davos conference, therefore acting as a conduit of policy information.

Discussing the role of education and schools in conflict situations, Ms. Di Giovanni relayed a story from an earlier trip to Juba – two years ago. She said that she witnessed a strong desire to learn. “I went to schools, spoke to teachers, students and educators – and what was really extraordinary was the desire to learn, because they realize that knowledge propels them out of a very dark place,” she said.

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Audio

Podcast moderator Alex Goldmark speaks with Middle East Editor at Newsweek Janine di Giovanni about her experiences as a journalist covering conflict situations – and how she thinks education is critical to breaking cycles of violence. AUDIO listen

UNICEF Photography: Education

'Beyond School Books'

The following stories are part of the 'Beyond School Books' series focusing on education during emergencies.